Global conservation organizations launch ‘Nature Positive Initiative’

The Paris Climate Accords would limit global greenhouse gas emissions until they reach net zero in 2050 to stop global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

Now 27 of the world’s most important conservation organizations, business coalitions, and others have launched a campaign to advocate for a similar framework to protect the planet’s flora and fauna.

Called the Nature Positive Initiative, the effort seeks to stop and reverse global biodiversity loss by 2030 compared to 2020 levels and fully recover lost natural resources by 2050.

Founding groups include the African Natural Capital Alliance, IUCN, Nature Conservancy, Pew Charitable Trusts, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and WWF International, among others.

"Reversing biodiversity loss is finally recognized as essential to safeguarding planetary health and, in turn, the future of humanity,” said Convenor of the Nature Positive Initiative and Director General of WWF International Marco Lambertini in a September 6 press release. Organizers noted that biodiversity loss is a major contributor to the global climate crisis, pandemics that originate from animals, food and water insecurity.

But Initiative founders added that, at present, stakeholders need to align different parties to agree on a definition of “nature positive” and other concerns to ensure accountability in new policies and other measures to repair biodiversity loss.

“This is about reintegrating our place as a species in the web of life on the planet”, says André Hoffmann, Chairman of InTent and Vice-Chairman of Roche. “It is about identifying Nature as an opportunity for reaching our common goal of an inclusive, sustainable prosperity and not as a costly, growth limited burden. Let us plough our collective energy back within our planetary limits and reach full recovery by 2050.” ce/jd